On the Origin of Mass Extinctions: Darwin’s Nontrivial Error

Matt Funk

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Darwin's "Origin" launched evolution into theoretical orbit and it continues to influence its course. This magnum opus detailed a tenable solution to the most fundamental problem of human existence, and although this Promethean vision contains sundry trivial flaws, there is, however, one nontrivial error which misguides several crucial developments – not only in the evolving structure of evolutionary theory, but across the entire spectrum of science, including politico-economics. This problem has led social and evolutionary theorists alike to mistakenly favour earth-based inputs over cosmic inputs, to over-emphasize biological evolution, and to under-emphasize stellar evolution. These methodological and logical errors have, in turn, emphasized the significance of the individual “struggle against competitors” over the cooperative “struggle against inclement environments”, and thus, as a result, fashionable theories relating to Global Warming, The Problem of Sustainable Economic Development, and The Tragedy of the Commons have been erected on a false foundations – and, moreover, point toward inherently unstable solutions. And to these salient points, in light of the theory presented here, we discover that the effective coordination of global threat mitigation efforts requires unprecedented levels of international politico-economic cooperation.

Keywords: tragedy of the commons; sustainable economic development; global warming; mass extinctions; ecological economics, ideological environmentalism; stellar evolution; cosmic inputs; global threat mitigation; international cooperation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q51 Q54 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-11-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-env, nep-evo and nep-neu
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https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/18944/1/MPRA_paper_18944.pdf revised version (application/pdf)
https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/19395/1/MPRA_paper_19395.pdf revised version (application/pdf)
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https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/20193/1/MPRA_paper_20193.pdf revised version (application/pdf)

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